Powder of choice for AR

rebs · December 17, 2012, 10:20 AM

What is your favorite powder for reloading for your AR ? What bullets are you loading ?

browninghunter86 · December 17, 2012, 12:22 PM

A ton of posts online about this topic. Varget,H335,Ramshot TAC,CFE 223. For my 68 BTHP I use Varget and for my 55gr FMJ I use H335.

rebs · December 17, 2012, 01:34 PM

Thank you, I am using H335 and haven't used anything else. I am kind of curious as to what else is out there that may be better than H335. I bought 1 lb of varget but haven't opened it yet

browninghunter86 · December 17, 2012, 01:47 PM

with Varget you would want a heavier bullet to maximize that powder. Others should post on this too but I would not use any of that Varget until I got a 62+gr bullet to try

I am going to do some more testing for accuracy soon with my AR. Up until now I really just worked up plinking loads and have only tried 3 different bullets. 60 gr Vmax, 68 BTHP, and the 55 FMJ dogtown bullets from MidWayUSA.

oldpapps · December 17, 2012, 04:14 PM

My preferred powder is 748.

I also use or have used: both H & IMR 4895, Blc2 and varget.
Most of my loadings are 50 and 55 grain but also include 62s and from time to time 75s.

There are many quality powders, I just haven't gotten to them. But then again, I am happy with 748.

Be safe,

OSOK

jib · December 17, 2012, 05:23 PM

We use Varget for 69 and 77 grain bullets; competition use.

amamnn · December 17, 2012, 09:34 PM

CFE223

10-96 · December 17, 2012, 11:27 PM

I've never loaded anything but 55gr bullets using Varget since 2002. I don't know where the bad reputation for that comes from, unless those folks have barrels with a twist faster than 1:9 or slower than 1:12.

chris in va · December 18, 2012, 04:51 AM

I'm not patient enough to worry about extracting another inch of accuracy by testing all my powder loads and bullet weights. I go to the range for fun and plinking, so I get bulk pulled bullets (or used to, supply dried up) and use an economical powder that is listed in my manual.

NWPilgrim · December 18, 2012, 05:51 AM

H335 has given me the most accurate loads so far for 55 and 62 gr FMJ, 60 gr SP, 62 gr TSX and 68-69 gr BTHP. Varget was better with the 75-77 gr BTHP and both were equally good with 65 gr SGK SP. BLC2 is just slightly less accurate, say 1 1/4" when H335 would do 1". From a 20" 1/7 twist FN bbl.

mineralman55 · December 18, 2012, 01:55 PM

AA2520 and a Sierra 69 BTHP. Superb in a 1:8 heavy bbl.

December 17, 2012, 10:20 AM	#1
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 1,599	Powder of choice for AR What is your favorite powder for reloading for your AR ? What bullets are you loading ?

December 17, 2012, 09:34 PM	#7
amamnn Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2006 Location: WA, the left armpit of the USA Posts: 1,323	CFE223 __________________ "If the enemy is in range, so are you." - Infantry Journal

December 17, 2012, 11:27 PM	#8
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 2,863	I've never loaded anything but 55gr bullets using Varget since 2002. I don't know where the bad reputation for that comes from, unless those folks have barrels with a twist faster than 1:9 or slower than 1:12. __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I'm going to use the words "clip" and "Long Colt" every chance I get. It grinds my gears to see new members attacked when we all know dang good and well what's being refered to.

December 18, 2012, 01:55 PM	#11
mineralman55 Member Join Date: September 29, 2009 Location: deep south Posts: 35	AR 5.56 Powder AA2520 and a Sierra 69 BTHP. Superb in a 1:8 heavy bbl.

December 17, 2012, 12:22 PM	#2
browninghunter86 Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2011 Posts: 500	A ton of posts online about this topic. Varget,H335,Ramshot TAC,CFE 223. For my 68 BTHP I use Varget and for my 55gr FMJ I use H335.

December 17, 2012, 01:34 PM	#3
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 1,599	Thank you, I am using H335 and haven't used anything else. I am kind of curious as to what else is out there that may be better than H335. I bought 1 lb of varget but haven't opened it yet

December 17, 2012, 01:47 PM	#4
browninghunter86 Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2011 Posts: 500	with Varget you would want a heavier bullet to maximize that powder. Others should post on this too but I would not use any of that Varget until I got a 62+gr bullet to try I am going to do some more testing for accuracy soon with my AR. Up until now I really just worked up plinking loads and have only tried 3 different bullets. 60 gr Vmax, 68 BTHP, and the 55 FMJ dogtown bullets from MidWayUSA.

December 17, 2012, 04:14 PM	#5
oldpapps Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2011 Location: Middle America Posts: 297	My preferred powder is 748. I also use or have used: both H & IMR 4895, Blc2 and varget. Most of my loadings are 50 and 55 grain but also include 62s and from time to time 75s. There are many quality powders, I just haven't gotten to them. But then again, I am happy with 748. Be safe, OSOK

December 17, 2012, 05:23 PM	#6
jib Member Join Date: May 31, 2012 Location: Seattle-ish Posts: 48	We use Varget for 69 and 77 grain bullets; competition use.

December 18, 2012, 04:51 AM	#9
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 11,718	I'm not patient enough to worry about extracting another inch of accuracy by testing all my powder loads and bullet weights. I go to the range for fun and plinking, so I get bulk pulled bullets (or used to, supply dried up) and use an economical powder that is listed in my manual.

December 18, 2012, 05:51 AM	#10
NWPilgrim Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,840	H335 has given me the most accurate loads so far for 55 and 62 gr FMJ, 60 gr SP, 62 gr TSX and 68-69 gr BTHP. Varget was better with the 75-77 gr BTHP and both were equally good with 65 gr SGK SP. BLC2 is just slightly less accurate, say 1 1/4" when H335 would do 1". From a 20" 1/7 twist FN bbl.